A gift to muslim women

An excerpt from A Gift to Muslim women by Br.Mustafa George

via Gems and Jewels

If a believer were to read some of the situations of the companions, including men and women, he would immediately be reminded of how one should implement his religion and remain steadfast upon piety and righteousness. There are numerous examples which display this and it only requires that one spends some time and reads.

From the various examples present in the Sunnah of strong eemaan, and firmness upon the religion is a brief encounter between one of the female companions and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Her name is Asma bint al Yazeed bin al Sakn al Ansariyah, and she was nicknamed: Khateebatun Nisaa – The Female Lecturer, due to her eloquent manner of speech. Asma was the niece of the famous companion and scholar Mua’th bin Jabal and she was well known for her uprightness and sound intellect. Continue reading

It’s My Shield!

I’ve been listening to this poem over and over again! Just LOVE it! ❤

The Shield- Brooke VanBuskirk

By day I wrap this shield around my head, across my chest
This world is a prison- my mind and heart I must protect
Why? Because without it there’s no limit to be observed

What is modesty and decency? Man can’t properly determine
They say my choice to cover is old-fashioned
they say our religious practices are backwards
They spew cliché democracy and liberation
little do they know there’s little knowledge in what they’re saying
my argument is that ‘the times, they are a-changin’
and slowly but surely approaches an ‘anything goes’ day, when
no rules apply
whats wrong is called right
and crimes of the heart creep like a thief in the night
Continue reading

Love is in the air..

3086416179_661625ca94_b

So, its “Valentines day” across the world today.. here’s an appropriate article for the “occasion” by our dearest Sister Yasmin Mogahed! 🙂

Source:www.suhaibwebb.com

Love is in the air!

…Or at least that’s what advertisers want you to think this month. While it’s nice to express your love often, Valentine’s Day comes once a year, leaving you no choice but to do so or risk seeming heartless. For the owners of floral boutiques and chocolate shops, Eid comes in February.

But even amidst such commercialized affections, one can hardly keep from thinking about those they love. And while we do so, we are inevitably faced with some  pivotal questions.

I was reminded of some of those questions when I reflected on something a friend of mine had told me. She described how it felt to be with the person she loved. In her words, the whole world disappeared when they were together. The more I reflected on her statement, the more it affected me, and the more it made me wonder. Continue reading

Secrets of Surat Al-Kahf – II

View a presentation on secrets of Surat Al-Kahf here.

Source: System of Life

Ever wondered why Prophet Muhammad(SAW) asked us to recite Surat Al-Kahf every Friday?

Let’s find out today inshaAllah…

This Surah has Four stories in it,having some morals,lets see them and understand what they are saying to us:

1) The People Of The Cave
Its the story of young men who lived in a disbelieving town, so they decided to migrate for the sake of Allah and run away. -Allah rewards them with mercy in the cave and protection from the sun – They woke up and found the entire village believers.
MORAL:TRIAL OF FAITH.

2) The Owner Of Two Gardens
A story of a man whom Allah blessed with two beautiful gardens, but the man forgot to thank the One who blessed him with everything and he even dared to doubt Allah regarding the afterlife.So His garden was destroyed – He regretted ,but was too late and his regret did not benefit him .
MORAL:TRIAL OF WEALTH.

3) Musa(AS) and Khidr(AS)
When Musa(AS) was asked-“Who’s the most knowledgeable of the people of earth?”” Musa(AS) said:Me…,but Allah revealed to him that there’s someone who Knows more than him.Musa(AS) traveled to the man and learnt how the Divine Wisdom can sometimes be hidden in matters which we perceive as bad.
MORAL:TRIAL OF KNOWLEDGE.

4) Dhul-Qarnayn
Its a story of the great King that was given knowledge and power and was going around the world,helping people and spreading all that’s good.He was able to overcome the problem of Yajooj-Majooj and build a massive dam with the help of people whom he could not even understand.
MORAL:TRIAL OF POWER.

In the middle Allah mentions Iblees as the one who stirs these trials:
Behold! We said to the angels “Bow down to Adam”: they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers!

 

Now let us see what’s the relationship between Surat Al-Kahf and the Dajjal (Anti-Christ)?

Dajjal will appear before Day of Judgement with the 4 trials:

***He’ll ask people to worship him and not Allah:
Trial of Faith .

***He’ll be given powers to start/stop rain and tempt people with his wealth:
Trial of with his wealth. .

***He’ll trial people with the “knowledge” and news he gives them:
Trial of Knowledge .

He’ll control huge parts of the Earth.
Trial of Power .

How to survive these trials? The answers are in Surat Al-Kahf 

Survival Kit 1: Good companionship.
“And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; no obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.” (Surat Al-Kahf, verse 28)

Survival Kit 2: Knowing the Truth of this World .
“Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: It is like the rain which we send down from the skies: the earth’s vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over all things” (Surat Al-Kahf, verse 45)

Survival Kit 3: Humbleness.
“Moses said: “Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught.””(Surat Al-Kahf, verse 69)

Survival Kit 4: Sincerity.
“Say: “I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah. whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.” (Surat Al- Kahf, verse 110)

# Survival Kit 5: Calling to Allah .
“And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord: none can change His Words, and none wilt thou find as a refuge other than Him.” (Surat Al-Kahf, verse 27)

# Survival Kit 6: Remembering the HereAfter .
“ One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks, (with the announcement), “Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!”: And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say, “Ah! woe to us! what a Book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great,but takes account thereof !” They will find all that they did, placed before them: And not one will thy Lord treat with injustice.” (Surat Al-Kahf, verses 47-49)

Source: System of Life

On the struggle of life…

On the Struggle of Life – By Sr.Yasmin Mogahed

 

I thought of you today
I thought of you and remembered those words you told me
In the most perfect way
You calmed my beating heart
And eased my breath
You told me those words and I carry them still
They lift me, fill me, undo the wear
Because more than pain, I am worn
I feel like I’ve lived this story for a thousand years
And I’m ready now to sleep
I’m ready to let go
I’m ready for the story to end now
I’m ready to feel your peace
And the sound of your voice
Telling me I’m done, I’ve won, I’m there
But I know I know this place
I’ve been here before
I’m going to sleep now
I’m going to sleep
Please don’t ask
Please don’t ask
Just let me sleep
Just let me sleep with your words upon my tongue:
‘Oh mankind, indeed you are ever toiling towards your lord, painfully toiling…
But you shall meet Him’ (84:6)

Mosaic Of Muslim Women

Assalamualaikum 🙂

I came across this really wonderful blog recently and I just had to share it here! It’s called the “Mosaic“. It’s started by a sister, who has taken up a wonderful job by starting the blog which recognizes muslim women from the past and present with amazing accomplishments. In her friday series she tells us all about the women during the prophet Muhammad (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)’s time, may Allah be pleased with them.

“Welcome to Mosaic, a colorful artwork of Muslim women from all over the world who have extraordinary acheivements. It is a platform in which to recognize the unrecognized, celebrate the accomplished, and bring together a wide diversity of women who exemplify the image of a Muslimah.

Our Mosaic would not be complete without the Muslim women of the past, starting from the time of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and working through over 1400 years of Islam in order to show the empowerment and freedom Islam has brought to women. For 1400 years, Islam has enabled women to vote, inherit, keep their own last names, have careers and be equal to men. The situation of women in certain countries are the result of culture and government and not at all consequences of Islam, although some people might wrongly use the name of the religion to justify their actions.

Every week, we will feature a woman from the past and a woman from the present in order to paint a true picture in your mind about Muslim women.”

Source: About Mosaic

May Allah reward all these lovely ladies in abundance for their wonderful work; and May Allah grant us too the ability to contribute to Islam and the soceity in our own little ways, someday. Ameen.

Do check the blog out! 🙂